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COMMISSION CONGRATULATES JANICE R. ASHCROFT, Q.C., ON APPOINTMENT TO COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH IN ALBERTA(June 23, 2017)Janice R. Ashcroft, Q.C., Senior Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, Alberta Human Rights Commission, was appointed a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta in Calgary on June 23, 2017. During her 19 years at the Commission, Justice Ashcroft was a committed ambassador for human rights in Alberta, litigating cases for the Commission in her early years as legal counsel for the Director of the Commission and advising tribunal members as senior legal counsel to the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals in recent years. She also spoke regularly at educational forums and conferences about human rights and administrative law issues.

Justice Ashcroft’s commitment to and empathy for vulnerable Albertans will be an enduring legacy. Her colleagues and friends at the Commission congratulate her and wish her the best in her new role. Read the news release from Justice Canada.

COMMISSION BIDS FAREWELL TO DON SMALLWOOD(June 30, 2017)On June 30, 2017, Don Smallwood left his position as Director of the Commission to take a new position within the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General as Executive Director, Claims and Recoveries Branch, Justice Services Division. Mr. Smallwood served as Director of the Commission from April 2, 2012 to June 30, 2017.

Commission staff express their gratitude for the leadership provided by Mr. Smallwood during his tenure at the Commission. His hard work and commitment to human rights have moved the work of the Commission forward in significant ways over the last five years. We wish him all the best in his new position.

AGE WILL BE ADDED AS A PROTECTED GROUND UNDER SECTIONS 4 AND 5 OF THE ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT(January 2017)A court application, pursuant to the equality provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was brought against the Alberta Government on January 6, 2017. The application alleged that with the omission of “age” as a protected ground under sections 4 (goods, services, accommodation or facilities) and 5 (tenancy) of the Alberta Human Rights Act, certain rights of seniors in Alberta are not protected. Alberta Justice consented to the application, but requested a 12-month reprieve to allow the government time to change the legislation. The Court granted the 12-month time frame as part of the Consent Order. In following the direction of the Court, the Commission will not accept complaints on the ground of age under sections 4 and 5 until such time as the legislation is amended or January 6, 2018, whichever occurs first.

GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER EXPRESSION NOW EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED GROUNDS OF DISCRIMINATIONBill 7 is now in force. The Bill amends the Alberta Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the Act as expressly prohibited grounds of discrimination.

PLEASE NOTE:The Commission is in the process of updating its publications and website to reflect the amendments to the legislation. In the meantime, if you are reading a Commission publication or web page dated before December 11, 2015, please note that the amendments have not yet been incorporated into the publication or web page.

ABOUT THE COMMISSIONThe Alberta Human Rights Commission is an independent commission of the Government of Alberta. Our mandate is to foster equality and reduce discrimination. We provide public information and education programs, and help Albertans resolve human rights complaints.